"Doing What Comes Naturally"

Often, I'll see someone who just sparkles with others, someone who has a gift for organising, or someone who has a natural ability to lead.

Invariably, when I gently point these attributes out, those on the receiving end look blank, dismiss it, or actually believe that everyone else has the same gifts as them.

On our Appraisal Skills training at ManageTrainLearn, we discuss Strengths Theory, which says that every person can do something better than 10,000 others.

I often speculate how many people are aware of it. Probably a fraction. And then I speculate how many of those who know their strengths are actually allowed to develop them at work. Hmmm.

In our Greek-inspired approach to education in the West, the aim has always been to create well-rounded individuals. In the zen-inspired approach to education in the East, the aim is to develop what people are already good at and allow them to blossom to their full potential.

Like many others who see a link between outstanding sports managers and outstanding business managers, I am a great admirer of Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United football team.

Last season, he took his team to the championship of the English Premier League for the third year in a row. He is a great manager and a great manager of people.

Once, when he was looking out of his office window, Ferguson saw a young kid playing football in the park. Looking back, the manager recalled, "This kid looked as relaxed and natural playing football as a puppy chasing silver paper in the wind."

That kid was Ryan Giggs. On his 14th birthday, Ferguson went to his house and signed him to his team where he has stayed ever since. Giggs is now the most decorated player in English football.

As managers, there are 3 things we can do to bring out the best in others:

1. spot their natural talent
2. find a way to nurture it
3. let them loose like puppies in the park.

So what's stopping you?